Serena Williams completes dominant season with WTA Championship triumph

The 17-times grand slam winner said there was still room for improvement.

Serena Williams capped off a season to remember by capturing her fourth WTA Championship title with a 2-6 6-3 6-0 win over Li Na on Sunday.

The 32-year-old American finished off a dominant year,in which she also won the French and U.S. Opens,by scooping up her 11th title of 2013.

China8217;s Li,who will reach a career-high third in the WTA rankings on Monday,broke Williams8217;s serve twice in the first set.

However,the world number one shifted gears in the second set to roar through 6-3,to the delight of more than 16,000 fans who filled Istanbul8217;s Sinan Erdem dome.

Williams showed little sign of the fatigue she complained about a day earlier,flattening Li in the third set with her brutal power and on court coverage.

The 17-times grand slam winner,who has played over 80 matches this season,said there was still room for improvement.

8220;I live to win slams. I really don8217;t know if this was my best season ever,but definitely top 3. I still have things to add to my game,8221; she said without elaborating.

Story continues below this ad

The opening game of the second set,which featured nine deuces,was the turning point.

8220;Looking back the first game of the second set was definitely a very important game for me to win. Li had been on a real roll. I guess I was determined to win that game at any cost,8221; she said.

Quizzed about the gap between her and the other players,Williams said: 8220;I8217;m just playing,and I8217;m trying to do the best that I can. I don8217;t know if there is a gap.8221;

Mental strength is the key to Williams8217;s dominance,according to Li8217;s coach Carlos Rodriguez.

Story continues below this ad

8220;As we saw today,the tennis gap between Serena and the rest of the players is not much. But mentally,she8217;s over the top,and she8217;s by far the greatest player at the moment,8221; said Rodriguez,the man who shaped former world number one Justine Henin8217;s career.

Li admitted nerves played a part in her defeat.

8220;I was too excited at the start of the game,and by the half of the second set,I had no more energy left,8221; she said.

But the 31-year-old Chinese,who served 10 double faults,was not too concerned.

8220;I have showed much improvement this year,and this serve-volley thing is new to me,and it8217;s not like playing from the baseline,8221; she explained.

Story continues below this ad

8220;I was feeling much better than the US Open. At least this time I tried to do my best,8221; said Li,who won only three games when she lost to Williams at Flushing Meadows in September.